Forest Fires

The record-breaking wildfire that has engulfed the city of Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada over the past week may yet still double in size, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said on Friday night, warning that, “in no way is this fire under control.”

The Associated Press reports that due to bad weather conditions, including continued high temperatures, dry weather, and high winds, the fire grew on Friday from impacting around 100,000 hectares to more than 156,000 hectares, and another likely two-fold increase in size would encompass additional forested areas, possibly reaching the border of the neighboring province, Saskatchewan, some 90 kilometers east of Fort McMurray.

In all, as much as 300,000 hectares (1,100+ square miles) may have either been burned or still be on fire by the end of Saturday. The fire has been so intense, it has even created its own weather at times, complete with lightning that has helped start new fires.

One evacuee watched his house burn down on his smartphone via a home security webcam while sitting in his truck after having escaped the fire just 20 minutes earlier: